Method and production of a sensor

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for producing a sensor ( 1 ), wherein a carrier chip ( 2 ) is produced. Said chip is provided with a sensor structure ( 3 ) comprising an active sensor surface ( 4 ). A material ( 9 ) capable of flowing is applied onto carrier chips ( 2 ) in such a way that the sensor structure ( 3 ) has a thinner layer thickness on said active sensor surface ( 4 ) than on the area of the carrier chip ( 2 ) which borders on the active sensor surface ( 4 ). The material ( 9 ) which is capable of flowing is hardened thereafter. The hardened material ( 9 ) is subsequently removed by chemical means from the surface which faces said carrier chip ( 2 ) until the active sensor surface of the sensor structure is layed bare.

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a sensor, such that a carrier chip is produced, which has a sensor structure with an active sensor surface, and a flowable material is applied to that surface region of the carrier chip, which bounds the active sensor surface, and this material is then solidified.

[0002] A method of the above type is already known from actual practice, in that a block, which covers the sensor surface, is first placed on the active sensor surface before the flowable material is applied to the sensor chip. The outer contour of the block is matched to the outer contour of the sensor surface, so that, when the block is in its operational position, it covers only the sensor surface, while the regions surrounding the sensor surface are kept open. The form of the surface structure of the block area which contacts the active sensor surface is matched to that of the active sensor surface, so that the block seated on the sensor surface seals it against the flowable material. This material is then applied to the surface of the sensor chip in the area surrounding the block, and is then solidified. For example, the flowable material can be a plastic compound which cures or rigidities after being applied to the sensor chip. The active sensor surface is then freely accessible for contact with a medium being investigated, while the surface regions laterally surrounding the active sensor surface are sealed by the plastic compound.

[0003] However, this method has the disadvantage that the block must be positioned on the sensor surface very precisely, to prevent the flowable material from penetrating between the block and the sensor surface, and thus to prevent the sensor surface from being covered with the flowable material. A special disadvantage is that the carrier chip is damaged when the block is placed on the sensor surface, and thus is made useless or at least defective. Another disadvantage of this method is that the production of the block and especially of the surface structure of that component which is complementary to the surface structure of the sensor surface when the block is in its operating position is still comparatively expensive. Finally, this previously known method is also unsuited for automation, however, and therefore is practically also unsuited for economical mass production of sensors.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the invention to create a method of the type mentioned in the introduction, which makes it possible, in a simple manner, to apply on the sensor structure a boundary adjoining the active sensor surface. This process must in no way damage the sensor structure.

[0005] This object is achieved in that the flowable material is applied less thick on the active sensor surface of the sensor structure than on that region of the carrier chip which surrounds the active sensor surface, and that, after the flowable material has solidified, it is chemically ablated over its entire surface which faces away from the carrier chip until the active sensor surface of the sensor structure is exposed.

[0006] In apparently contradictory fashion, the flowable material is applied not only to that region of the carrier chip which surrounds the sensor surface but also on the sensor surface itself, although the sensor surface actually should be kept free of the flowable material. In the region of the active sensor surface, the flowable material is applied less thick than in the laterally adjoining regions. After the material has solidified, the flowable material is brought in contact with a medium which makes a chemical bond with the solidified material, such that the solidified material is ablated. This contact is made both in the region of the active sensor surface and in the laterally adjoining regions of the flowable material, at that surface which faces away from the carrier chip. The chemical ablation process is stopped when the solidified material in the region of the active sensor surface has been completely ablated and thus the sensor surface situated beneath this has been exposed. Since the flowable material has been applied more thick in the regions which laterally adjoin the sensor surface than in the region of the sensor surface itself, the regions laterally adjoining the sensor surface continue to be covered by the solidified material after the sensor surface has been exposed. The chemical medium for ablating the solidified material is chosen so that it does not chemically attack the material which constitutes at least that part of the sensor structure which bears the sensor surface. The inventive method thus makes it possible, in simple fashion, to apply, on the sensor structure, a lateral boundary to the sensor surface, such that the sensor surface remains free of this boundary. Damage to the sensor structure is reliably avoided. The flowable material can solidify, in well-known fashion, by curing, solidifying, and/or the vaporization pof a solvent contained in the flowable material.

[0007] It is advantageous if the flowable material is ablated by etching after it has solidified, especially by plasma etching. The method can then be especially well integrated into a semiconductor production process. The carrier chip and/or the sensor structure situated thereon can then consist of a semiconductor material.

[0008] It is especially advantageous for the flowable material to be spray-applied to the carrier chip in an injection molding tool and for the injection molding tool to have a block-like protrusion, which, in its operational position, faces the active sensor surface and covers it, so that its boundary is flush with that of the active sensor surface. The carrier chip which bears the sensor structure can then very simply be encapsulated with the flowable material designed as a transfer molding means. A transfer molding means, for example a thermoplastic, which is used to encapsulate conventional electronic components can be used here. This method is especially suited for the industrial mass production of large numbers of sensors.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a flowable additive material, which covers the sensor surface, is applied at least to the exposed surface of the sensor structure, and is then solidified. The additive material here comes in contact only with the active sensor surface, while the remaining regions of the sensor structure are kept at a distance from the additive material through the solidified material which forms the boundary of the sensor surface. In this way, it is even possible to apply an additive material to the sensor structure which may come in contact only with the active sensor surface, but not with the remaining regions of the sensor structure. The additive material can be especially a material that is necessary for the sensor to function, for example an ion-permeable membrane or an ion-selective sensor, a transparent layer for an optical sensor, an optical filter, an optical lens, or another material which differs from the solidified material that forms the boundary.

[0010] It is especially advantageous if the flowable additive material is sprayed on the sensor in the injection molding tool. The additive material then fills up the chemically ablated regions of the solidified material, which has been applied to the sensor structure or to the carrier chip as a boundary for the sensor surface. In advantageous fashion, the same injection molding tool can be used to spray on the additive material as was used to spray on the material forming the boundary of the sensor surface. An expensive, additional injection molding tool can thus be saved.

[0011] One embodiment of the invention provides that the carrier chip is disposed on a frame when the flowable material and, where applicable, the additive material is being applied, and that openings to receive and/or pass component regions of the frame are situated in the inner cavity of the injection molding tool, and that, in the operating position, the bounding edges of the openings contact these component regions so as to create a seal. These component regions of the frame then remain free of the flowable material and, where applicable, also of the additive material. For example, they can be equipped with external electrical contacts for connecting the sensor to an electrical or electronic circuit. The connection contacts can be connected to the sensor structure through bond wires which contact, on the one hand, the frame and, on the other hand, the carrier chip and/or the sensor structure.

[0012] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention specifies that a photosensitive material is applied, as the flowable material, to the active sensor surface and the surrounding surface region of the carrier chip, and that the material is then ablated by regions, by means of a masking and development process, in such a way that the material which remains on the active sensor surface of the sensor structure forms a thinner layer than it does in that region of the carrier chip which surrounds the active sensor surface and that the material is then chemically ablated over its entire surface, until the active sensor surface of the sensor structure has been exposed.

[0013] After the flowable, photosensitive material has been applied to the carrier chip, it is conditioned if necessary, for example by heat. During the subsequent masking process, the photosensitive material is exposed by regions, in well-known fashion, for example by projecting optical radiation through a photo mask onto the photosensitive material. When a photopositive material is used, the photosensitive material situated on the active sensor surface is exposed, while the remaining photosensitive material remains unexposed. Correspondingly, when a photonegative material is used, the photosensitive material situated on that surface region of the carrier chip which bounds the active sensor surface is exposed, while the photosensitive material situated on the active sensor surface remains unexposed. In the following development process, the material situated on the active sensor surface is then ablated more strongly upon contact with the developer than the remaining material, which is essentially resistant to the developer. The exposure and development process can be guided such that the material situated on the active sensor surface after development is only a very thin layer. This practically obviates the risk that, during the subsequent chemical ablation of the remaining material over the entire area, undercuts or underetchings will form in the material regions which adjoin the edge of the active sensor surface. This is especially advantageous if the remaining material is ablated by isotropic etching.

[0014] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing:

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a partial cross section through an injection molding tool, in which a semiconductor chip, which has an active sensor surface and which is situated on a frame is encapsulated by a flowable material through injection molding.

[0016]FIG. 2 shows a partial cross section of the semiconductor chip demolded from the injection molding tool, when the sprayed-on and solidified material is ablated.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a partial cross section through the arrangement of FIG. 2, after the active sensor surface of the semiconductor chip has been exposed.

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a partial cross section through the sensor shown in FIG. 3, after it has been encapsulated with an additive material by injection molding.

[0019] In a process for producing a sensor, which is designated in its entirety by 1, a carrier chip 2 is used, which is designed as a semiconductor chip, and which has a sensor structure 3 with an active sensor surface 4. In a manner that is well known from semiconductor production technology, the carrier chip 2 is disposed on a frame 5, together with other carrier chips. It adheres to the frame 5 through an adhesive layer 6, situated between the carrier chip 2 and the frame 5. The carrier chip 2, situated on the frame 5, is placed into the inner cavity of an injection molding tool, which has two molding parts 7 a, 7 b, that can move relative to one another and that can be brought into an open and closed position.

[0020] Then the injection molding tool is closed. The injection molding tool has openings, not shown in the drawing, which are situated in the separation plane of the mold parts 7 a, 7 b. When the mold parts 7 a, 7 b are in the closed position, these openings take up component regions of the frame 5, which is inserted in the inner cavity of the injection molding tool. The shape of the openings is matched to the shape of the component regions of the frame 5 inserted in them, so that, when the mold parts 7 a, 7 b are in the closed position, the bounding edges of the openings always contact the component regions of the frame 5, which are inserted into the openings, in such a way as to create a seal. At the openings, the frame is interlocked with the mold parts 7 a, 7 b, which are in their closed position.

[0021]FIG. 1 shows that the oppositely facing, flat sides of the arrangement formed by the carrier chip 2, the frame 5, and the adhesive layer 6 always are at a distance from the inside walls of the mold parts 7 a, 7 b, which are situated in their closed position. As FIG. 1 further shows, the mold part 7 a of the injection molding tool has a block-like protrusion 8. When the injection molding tool is in its closed position, this block-like protrusion 8 faces the active sensor surface 4 of the carrier chip 2, which is inserted into the inner cavity of the injection molding tool. The block-like protrusion 8 then covers the sensor surface 4 of the sensor structure 3, such that the bounding edge of the block-like protrusion 8 coincides with that of the active sensor surface 4. FIG. 1 shows that, in the region of the sensor surface 4, the carrier chip 2 has a lesser distance from the inside wall of the mold part 7 a, in a direction orthogonal to the extensive plane of the carrier chip 2, than in the regions of the carrier chip 2, which laterally adjoin the sensor surface 4.

[0022] After the injection molding tool has been closed, the carrier chip 2 inserted therein is encapsulated, by injection molding, in a flowable material 9, for example a plastic. The flowable material 9 is introduced into the inner cavity of the injection molding tool through inlet ducts, which are not shown in the drawing, under pressure and possibly under the action of heat. It fills the free spaces situated between the arrangement formed by the carrier chip 2, the frame 5, and the adhesive layer 6, and the walls of the mold parts 7 a, 7 b. FIG. 1 clearly shows that the flowable material is applied less thick on the active sensor surface 4 of the sensor structure 3 than on the regions of the carrier chip 2, which laterally bound the active sensor surface 4. After the carrier chip has been encapsulated by injection molding, the material 9 is solidified and rigidified by cooling. The encapsulated carrier chips 2, together with the frame 5, are then demolded from the injection molding tool.

[0023] Then that surface of the material 9, which faces away from the carrier chip 2, is ablated by etching, for example by wet etching or by plasma etching. In FIG. 2, the ablation process is symbolically represented by arrows. The etching process is stopped when the material 9 has been completely ablated from the carrier chip 2 in the region of the active sensor surface 4, and the sensor surface 4 situated beneath this is exposed. The etching means is chosen so that the material of the sensor structure 3 is chemically stable against the etching means, and thus the sensor structure 3 is not altered by contact with the etching means. As FIG. 3 shows, the regions of the carrier chip 2, which laterally adjoin the sensor surface 4, continue to be covered by the material 9 after the sensor surface 4 has been exposed.

[0024] After the sensor surface 4 is exposed, the frame 5, together with the carrier chips 2 adhering thereto through the adhesive layer 6, is again inserted into the injection molding tool, and the mold parts 7 a, 7 b are closed. The above-mentioned component regions of the frame 5 now engage the openings of the injection molding tool assigned to them, such that the frame 5 is positioned in the inside cavity of the injection molding tool, in the same way as when it is being encapsulated by the flowable material 9. At the points where the material 9 has been etched away at the encapsulation of the carrier chip 2, a free space remains between the carrier chip 2, encapsulated by the material 9, and the respectively adjoining inside wall of the mold parts 7 a, 7 b. A flowable additive material 10 is injected into this free space through the inlet ducts of the mold parts 7 a, 7 b, so as to fill up the free space. The additive material 10 then solidifies, for example by rigidifying and/or curing. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the additive material 10 is optically transparent, and forms a window that is transparent to the visible radiation that is to be detected. The radiation which is to be detected can pass through this window to the light-sensitive sensor surface 4 of the sensor structure 3.

[0025] By the method for producing the sensor 1, a carrier chip 2 is thus produced, which has the sensor structure 3 with an active sensor surface 4. A flowable material 9 is applied to the carrier chips 2, in such a way that it forms a thinner layer on the active sensor surface 4 of the sensor structure 3 than on the regions of the carrier chip 2, which laterally adjoin the active sensor surface 4. Then the flowable material 9 solidifies. Then that surface of the solidified material 9, which faces away from the carrier chip 2, is chemically ablated, until the active sensor surface of the sensor structure is exposed. 

1. A method for producing a sensor (1), such that a carrier chip (2) is produced, which has a sensor structure (3) with an active sensor surface (4), a flowable material (9) is applied to that surface region of the carrier chip (2), which bounds the active sensor surface (4), and this material (9) is then solidified, characterized in that the flowable material (9) is applied less thick on the active sensor surface (4) of the sensor structure (3) than on the region of the carrier chip (2), which surrounds the active sensor surface (4), and that, after the flowable material (9) has solidified, it is chemically ablated over its entire surface which faces away from the carrier chip (2), until the active sensor surface (4) of the sensor structure (3) is exposed.
 2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that, after the flowable material (9) has solidified, it is ablated by etching, especially by plasma etching.
 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier chip (2) is encapsulated by the flowable material (9) in an injection molding tool, and that the injection molding tool has a block-like protrusion (8), which, in its operating position, faces the active sensor surface (4), such that its bounding edge is flush with that of the active sensor surface (4).
 4. The method of one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a flowable additive material (10) is applied at least on the exposed sensor surface (4) of the sensor structure (3) so as to cover the sensor surface (4), and is then solidified.
 5. The method of one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flowable additive material (10) is sprayed on the sensor (1) in the injection molding tool.
 6. The method of one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carrier chip (2) is disposed on a frame (5) when the flowable material (9) and, where applicable, the additive material (10) is being applied, and that openings to receive and/or pass component regions of the frame (5) are situated in the inner cavity of the injection molding tool, and that, in the operating position, the bounding edges of the openings contact these component regions so as to create a seal.
 7. The method of one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a photosensitive material (9) is applied, as the flowable material, to the active sensor surface (4) and the surrounding surface region of the carrier chip (2), and that the material (9) is then ablated by regions, by means of a masking and development process, in such a way that the material (9) which remains on the active sensor surface (4) of the sensor structure (3) forms a thinner layer than it does in the region of the carrier chip (2), which surrounds the active sensor surface (4), and that the material (9) is then chemically ablated over its entire surface, until the active sensor surface (4) of the sensor structure (3) has been exposed. 